by Erin Bush, Resource Conservationist, CCSWCD A recap of the Conservation Series, hosted by the Champaign County Soil & Water Conservation District, Farm Bureau, and supported by The Land Connection, February 24, March 3, and March 10, 2020, Champaign, Illinois. Earlier this year at a watershed meeting, the Champaign County Soil & Water Conservation District […]
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CSA Fair 2020 Review
We hope you made it to the CSA Fair this past Saturday at Lincoln Square Mall, but if you didn’t, I’m here to catch you up on the many great conversations you missed! This year, we had 12 farmers and vendors showcasing their Community Supported Agriculture options for 2020. If you aren’t sure what a […]
Strip Grazing for Soil Health
by Ted Krauskopf, Hickory Flat Cattle Co. As a producer, I recognize the benefit of rotational grazing versus set stock grazing. In 2008 we expanded the pasture on our farm to include a total of 90 acres of former cropland plus about 20 more acres of a combination of timber area, and some riparian area […]
Growing a Regional Supply Chain for Organic Agriculture
A recap of the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council’s Farmer Forum, February 25, 2020, Beck’s Hybrids, El Paso, IL What comes first, the chicken, the egg, or the processing plant? This question was posed by Cavan Sullivan of Petersburg Poultry Processing at last week’s Greater Peoria Economic Development Council’s (GPEDC) Farmer Forum. Cavan answered that […]
Return to Form
by Lisa Bralts I’m sure you know how it is. Everything’s ready to go. Supplies have been acquired; plans are in place. Said plans are verging on being put into action when some external factor – over which there is no control – comes rudely into play. Perhaps that external factor is weather (it often […]
Tapping into Conservation: Our Night Sharing Beers, Experience, and Insight at Riggs Brewery
Last week we had a great time hanging out at Riggs Brewery, drinking beers and talking soil and nutrient retention with more than 40 of our region’s row crop farmers and farmland owners. The purpose was threefold: Grow your local network of farmers that you can turn to for insight and advice. Learn about the […]